Splendid
SHORT FILMS
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Lucy Moon
Spirit of Place is the first film to implement Equity’s Green Rider and explores our relationship with the natural world through the eyes of its two young protagonists. Exploring the UK’s vital and under-appreciated wetlands habitats, the film seeks to encourage everyone to reconnect with nature and consider their relationship with the world around them. Through chance encounters and some curious discoveries, the two young protagonists begin to learn about themselves and their own relationship with the natural world. On the Edge, a media and conservation not-for-profit and the film’s producers, is committed to reconnecting people with nature so that they might fall in love with it and help us to protect it and Spirit of Place is a visual representation of that mission, designed to create an emotional response for everyone who watches it.
Guy Taylor
Eco-influencer Fleur heads to the studio for the launch of her
new ‘green’ brand deal, but she’s quickly met with the harsh reality of the corporate machine.
Sofia Vitver
The retired soldier suffers from unbearable headaches. His last hope for a cure is the Special Doctor Clinic.
His housekeeper, also traumatized by the war, experiences Alexander’s outbursts of rage and she’s also hoping for a visit of a unique doctor.
Finally appearing, enigmatic Dr. Martha ( young girl with Down syndrome) really changes the characters beyond recognition. Her disappearing makes them think about completely different issues .
Sean Kardar
With the unexpected death of his father, Jamie finds himself in the middle of his Muslim uncle, Hafiz, and his father’s New-Age girlfriend, Alicia, at the office of William’s Funeral Directors.
Presented with a series of burial options catering for every religious denomination, uncertain about his father’s beliefs, or his own, he finds himself at a crossroads between religious tradition and his secular upbringing. Should he be buried as a Muslim? Or was he a modern day “spiritual?”
Luca Caserta
On Goat Island, elderly Stella Flanders must confront her past and the Reach that separates the isle from the mainland, in a journey between memories and love that transcends the boundaries of life.
Stella Flanders is the oldest woman on Goat Island. Throughout her life, she has never crossed the reach that separates the isle from the mainland. She has spent her entire existence in that small, close-knit community that is almost as welcoming as a family and in which she has always had everything she needed. But as a freezing winter descends upon the island, Stella begins to see visions of those she once loved, calling her toward the Reach. Perhaps the time has come for her to embark on that journey she never wished to take…
Sonny Poon Tip
Fresh faced Drew (20s) walks into his local coffee shop. Today, there’s an unusual spring in his step and Drew dons a smug grin that coffee shop owner Lydia (50s) can’t miss. As she pushes him for the details behind his boyish smirk, we snap back 24 hours to find out for ourselves.
It’s the day before, and Drew stands again across from Lydia. However it’s clear now that Drew is in fact a homeless young man. Worn out and tired, we see fragments of Drew’s daily reality; survival and struggle on the streets of London, forced into isolation by a judgmental society. That is until Drew finds himself suddenly at the right place, right time and gets his hands on a forgotten gym bag containing everything he needs to give himself a refresh. This kicks off a chain of events that lead to Drew having one of the best days he’s had in a while, including a stint in the pub, an encounter with Molly (20s), a hot shower, and a warm bed for the night.
MORNING, GLORY is a heartwarming story of how one small break in life can feel like it turns everything around, and the sun shines brighter even just for a little bit. It also aims to hold up an important mirror to society on how homeless people are perceived, or not perceived, based off of appearance and stereotype.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
This is an important story for me to get right. This film is based off of a true story told to my mum by a young homeless guy named Tom who used to come often into our family run coffee shop. I spoke with Tom often myself during shifts at the coffee shop, and he was an extremely interesting individual. He would speak openly about his experience with homelessness. He would sometimes be chatty and charismatic, and other times distant and angry. He was complicated, and he was human. Unfortunately Tom is no longer with us and this film will be dedicated to him. I’m interested in telling it as it’s a story that has always stuck with me and made my family smile, and my interactions with Tom have opened my eyes to the lack of compassion for homeless people that is so rife within our society. It’s unfortunately rare to see somebody looking a homeless person in the eye, let alone reaching out a hand to help them. I hope that this film can act as a catalyst to changing people’s perspectives of homelessness, and show that behind the exterior will always be a human with every emotion and feeling like anyone else.
Will Wright
When a European art collector is given a private viewing of the British Museum’s ‘special collections’, suspicions are raised when he takes a special interest in one particular object.
But after hearing a re-telling of the infamous object’s discovery the collector forces the curator into internal conflict when he tries to acquire it for himself.
Tara Aghdashloo.
A dark comedy about an airport customs officer dealing with various passengers while trying to secure his job, navigating a totalitarian system.
Ilya Noyabrev
On the threshold of the Supreme Court, everyone anxiously awaits the Decision about their fate. And only one strives to return to where a part of their soul remains.
Adam Smethurst
Josie wants to be like any other teenager. Poised between adolescence and adulthood she finds herself isolated, living with the challenges of NF1, a protective father and a fascination with a medieval king. When new girl Ash shows up at drama class, Josie seizes the chance to change her story.
Thomas Schubert
VOICELESS is a poignant drama about JOE, a young man with a stammer who’s reluctantly pulled into his friends’ writing and performance group. Pushed beyond his comfort zone, he confronts his fear of public speaking and discovers the power of his own voice in the most unexpected way.
Amir Zargara
Arash is a professional wrestler with dreams of representing his country and winning gold medals. The country is in turmoil and its people are suffering. Arash must decide between using his platform to stand up to tyranny, or put his head down and remain silent.
Ana Colato, Guadalupe Sanz
A young trans woman gets locked out of the apartment she’s supposed to be watching and has no choice but to ask for help from the building’s superintendent, a middle-aged man with Down syndrome who quickly wins her trust and affection.
Live large no shame, is a story about an unexpected encounter, a moment of urban poetry that captures the magic of diversity.
Adam Fox
The Hero tells the story of a young, aimless boy who soon becomes drawn into the world of the charity GIFT. The boy eventually takes up the mantle of the heroic giver, finding a unique way to give back to the kindly volunteer who inspired him.
Annabel Vine
Maggie’s from the West Country; Craig’s from the Future – and together they might just save the planet. He’s funny, intense, and impossible to resist… but the closer Maggie gets, the more she suspects his story hides something darker. As their bond deepens, the danger escalates, smashing the boundaries between reality and delusion, monotony and wormholes, betrayal and True Love.